Electric cooking vessel and stand



Jan. 13, 1942. L. REICHOLD ELECTRIC COOKING VESSEL AND STAND Filed Jan. 8, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l LuA w Vein! A- INVENTOR BY (5M ATTORNEY 5 Jan. 13, 1942.

1.. RElCHOLD ELECTRIC COOKING VESSEL,- AND STAND Filed Jan. 8, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Luclwlq lPdciminL QNVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 13, 1942' 'UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC COOKING VESSEL AND STAND Ludwig Reichold, Winsted, Conn;

Application January 8, 1941, Serial No. 373,551

17 Claims.

This invention relates to cooking equipment and more specifically an electrical and internally heated receptacle and circuit controlling support therefor.

In general, it is an object of the invention to provide a device of the character described, which will efiiciently perform the purposes for which it is intended, which is simple and economical of construction, which can be expeditiously, conveniently and safely manipulated, and which can be readily manufactured and assembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide an internally, efficiently heated vessel, the control for the heat of which is in the device which supports the vessel; to'provide such a combination in which the vessel is removable from the support in order that the former may be easily washed or otherwise used while the control,

mechanisms remain behind in the latter; and to provide such a combination in which there is assured, in the control mechanism in the support, sensitiveness to the intensity of the heat in the vessel, and in which contacts exposed, when the vessel is removed, are automatically disconnected from the electric circuit and are automatically connected to an electric circuit when the vessel is placed upon the support, and in which those contacts are triply controlled, i. e., by automatic temperature control, by automatic mechanical control from the vessel and by manual control.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. The invention accordingly comprises the features'of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplifled in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking receptacle on a. support, said receptacle and support embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but with the cooking receptacle shown spaced above its support and slightlytilted to expose its under surface;

of the receptacle support, the latter being shown in inverted position;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the under side Fig. 4 is a cross section of an electrical contact in the bottom of the receptacle:

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section of the receptacle and support shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic representation of the electric circuit with a few associated parts.

The present invention contemplates an electric cooking utensil which has high heat emciency and is so safe that there is substantially no danger to the housewife. It is at the same time so simple that the actual receptacle or pot has substantially the appearance and weight of an ordinary receptacle. There are no excrescenses on the side of the kettle. The heat is all generated within the wall of the kettle itself. There are no live parts exposed when the kettle is removed from its support, nor are there at any other time. There are no wires attached to the kettle. As a result, the kettle may be used apart from its support as though it were an ordinary cooking utensil. For example, it may be entirely submerged in water while it is being washed.

Not only is the kettle substantially like other kettles, but its operation, in connecting it to its support so that the current is delivered to its interior, is so direct that a housewife, in placing it on its support would automatically obtain a proper connection resulting in the kettles being firmly locked in position.

The heating element is in the kettle, which makes for maximum heat eiliciency. The thermostatic control, however, is in the support. This permits the kettle to be composed of a minimum of parts with a corresponding minimum weight. The means for locking the kettle to its support performs an added function in that it provides a path of almost no heat resistance to the thermostatic control.

There are three separate controls of the electric current in the device. The removal .of the kettle automatically disconnects the electrodes in the support which deliver current to the vessel so that they are no longer alive. The thermostat shuts ofif the current at one or more predetermined temperatures of vessel. There is also a manual switch.

In the drawings, l0 denotes a receptacle in which material is to be heated. This usually takes the form of a kitchen kettle. The'kettle is adapted to be placed upon support 12, which has a flat top H and may have lugs I6. There is an opening in the top H, in which is positioned the current control mechanism. The latter may comprise an .outer band of suitable material, such as metal. It is supported .in any convenient fashion. as by welding to the top Hi. It has a flange :3 which rises above the level of the top H. Attached to the outer band is a disc 28, which is at about the height of the top id, and except for openings within itself, it occupies all of the space within the outer band. It is preferably of an electrically insulating material. Re-

siliently mounted electrodes 24am! 25 extend through openings in the disc and press them selves slightly above the level of the disc. A circular element 26 having cars 28 is positioned centrally of the disc and extends through and slightly above it. This element provides a path for heat to pass from thefkettie, ill to the thermostatic control elements below, and its ears cooperate with elements o ijhe bottom of the kettle to draw the bottom of the latter into tight con tact with the element 28.

Attached to the'bottom oi the kettle is an annular element 30, which is preferably of metal. Its outer edgeiis turned down to form 32, of radius such t at it just seats in the flange I8, which extends up from the support ii. The ul'adially inward portion of annulus 30 is formed to provide another downward extending flange i 36, from the bottom of which there extends radially inward and parallel with the bottom of the kettle a ledge 36. There are two cut away sections 38 in this ledge 36. When the kettle is is rotated about a vertical axis through its center the ledge 36 slides along with the ears 28 between the ledge and the kettle bottom, whereby 1 the kettle becomes attached toits support and is secured thereagainst by the ears. The ledge 36 adjacent the opening 38 therein may be made to slope slightly so as to pull the kettle down tightly against element 26 as the kettle is rotated with respect to the fixed ears;

If desired, there may be a lug 49 attached to the flange 32 and adaptedtoseat at one end of a cut away portion 42 of the flange l8, which rises from the table1i2. This lug may act'as an index to indicate to a user how to orient the kettle so that it may be placed with the cut away portions 38 exactly above the cars 28. The user knows e. g., that to attach the kettle the lug is positioned at theright-hand end and then the kettle is rotated asfar as tlre opening c2 will permit the lug 4|! to move. by; which time the ledge 36,.

- in cooperation with. the ears 28, will draw the kettle down tightly into position. The edge of portion 42 of the flange may: be somewhat sloped toassist in bringing ledge 36 tightly against ears 28. Contacts 64, which extend down through the bottom of the kettleand the annulus 38,'make electrical contact with the resiliently mounted contacts 24 in the controlling mechanism.

An electric depressible switch element 46 eX- tends up through the insulating block 213, and is operated by a rim-like cam 43, which extends down from the bottom of the kettle. As shown, this cam is attached to the inner edge of the ledge 36. As will be described below, the electric potential is not brought to the contacts at until switch 46 has been' depressed, and the cam as is so positioned on the bottom of the kettle that it does not operate the switch 86 until the ears 28 and ledge 36 have finally brought the kettle the resiliently depressible switch 36 to move to a position shutting ofi/the current before the kettle has been turned far enough for it tobe raised clear of the ears 28.

Heat is supplied to the vessel through an electric resistance 50, which -.extends between the electrodes id and d5 and within the ,walls of the vessel. As shown, the heating element 50 lies between the outer and inner walls 52 and 5B of the floor of the vessel. ,-Any necessaryrinsulation is provided. The heating element may be positioned annularly toward the outer wallsjof the vessel, This permits the outer and inner walls at the center of the fioor of the vessel to be in contact with the outer walls somewhat higher in this central portion than where it is beneath the heating element 50. There is thus formed an upwardly extending concavity 55,,into which the element 26 of the control mechanism may seat. 1 V

This control mechanism (see Figs. 3 and 5) is carried by the insulating block 20, and comprises the two, electrodes "2 and 25, together with the means for disconnecting them from the source of potential. A hand-operated rotatable knob 58 is positioned outside the support l2, and is carried by a shaft/60, to which is fixedly attached a cam 62. The latter cooperates with a cam member 64 on a pivoted arm 66. The cam and cam member hold the arm 68in such a position that contacts 68 and Hi are separated when the bell crank, the other arm of which presses against a flat metallic spring member 82, which carries contact ilfii. When the knob is in off position the shaft and bell crank are so arranged that the resilient member 82 holds contact 86 away from another contact 86. Since contact 84 is directly connected by lead 83 to an outside source of potential and since contact 88 is directly connected to electrode. 25,'it will be 'seen f that for the ofif" position of the knob electrode 25, like electrode 24, has no potential impressed thereon. When the knob is turned to the on position, cam 82 operates arm 66 tobring contacts 88 and ill toward each other, and shaft 6Q pushes the bell arm 78 around its pivot to press into it's firm final position. Similarly, when the kettle is to be rotated in the reverse direction and released from its support, the cam Q8 permits contacts 84 and 86 together. In this fashion potential is delivered to electrode 2%, but electrode 25 does not receive potential until contacts as and at are finally caused to meet by the placing of the kettle on the support, as will be next described. The lead 72 may be connected'to the ground side of the circuit, so that the potential impressed upon electrode 24 is zero.

Contact is on lead 88, which may be a spring, the end of which has a vertical extension 90. Two horizontal fingers 92 and 94 are attached to extension 98. A spring 96 tends to hold the end of the pivotedmem-ber d6 above the level of the block 20. Finger 98 on member 46 cooperates with finger on spring 88 to hold it and its attached contact 86 in spaced relation with contact 65. When cam on the kettle presses member 66 down, finger 98 is depressed and finger 85 no longer holds spring 88 and contact 86 away from contact 84, and the resiliency of the spring 88 causes contact 86 to move into contact with contact 84. Thus finally, an electric connection is made between lead-in 83 through parts 82, 84, 88 and 88 to electrode 25. Pivoted member 46 may similarly hold contact 68 away from contact 10 until said member is operated by cam 48.

of the disc has two oppositely beveled extremities oneof which pivotally engages a notch on the inside of flange 9|. A third class lever 85 having a reentrant angle bond has its shorter end provided with a beveled extremity fulcrumed in a notch in flange 8|. The other end of thrust bar 83 seats in said angle bend. The thrust bar 83 and the short end of the lever 95 form two short sides of a triangle, of which disc 26 is the hypotenuse. The thrust bar 83 and lever 95 are preferably of a metal or metals having a thermal coefllcient of expansion somewhat lower than the material of the disc 26. Consequently, when the disc expands due to heat transmitted to it from the vessel l0, the bar 83 and lever 85 swing toward the disc against spring 91. The free end of lever undergoes a motion greatly magnified compared to the expansion of disc 26.

When the temperature of the kettle and hence of the disc has been raised to a certain value the free end of. lever 95 comes into contact with finger 82, moving it and the spring 88 and the contact 85 attached to the spring 88 away from contact 84. This disconnects electrode 25 from the source of potential and the electric current ceases to flow through the heatingelement in the kettle. As the latter cools, the parts return to their former position and current once again fiows through the heating element. The diagram in Fig. 6 shows the parts with the switch element- 46 pushed by a vessel (not shown) against spring 95, so that finger 98 does not interfere with finger 84. Spring lead 88 would, therefore, be free to move contact 86 against contact 84, except that the parts are shown at the high temperature cut-off position, i. e., the lever 95 under the action of spring 91 has pulled spring lead 88, by means'of the finger 92, away from contact 84.

Certain of the parts already described permit the user of the'kettle to determine at what temperature the latter is to be maintained. After the knob 58 has been turned to on position, it may be turned farther, thereby causing the shaft 50 to move farther axially to any desired point. The bell crank arm 18 is accordingly rotated farther about its pivot 19, causing the other arm 80 of the bell crank to push spring 82 and the contact 84 thereon farther against spring 84. This in turn moves the finger 92 nearer the thermostat disc 26. In the event the disc must become just so much hotter before the lever 95 can reach finger 92 to raise it and contact 88 off from contact 84. Therefore the position of the knob determines at what temperature of the kettle I0 the heating current is to be turned off. An index (not shown) on the knob and a dial associated therewith (also not shown) inform the user where to position the knob to obtain the kettle temperature desired. The dial may be marked, for example, low, simmer, boil, high, off or in any convenient fashion.

The heating element 50 is positioned in a water tight compartment between walls 52 and 54 of the vessel. Electrodes 44 and 45, to which the heating element is attached, extend through and form a water tight joint with the outer wall 52. Each comprises a central metal plug I00 for carrying the current, an insulating annulus I02, preferably of glass-like material and attached surroundingly to, as by being imbedded in, plug I00, and a larger annulus I04 attached surroundingly to, as by being imbedded in, annulus I02. The latter annulus I04 has its outer edge folded into the folded edge of an opening in wall 52, or its outer edge may be welded into the edge of the opening in walliz. The Walls 52 and 54 may be quite close together, especially if the heating element 50 is in the form of a thin strip placed between layers I05 of mica. The heating element may be in parallel between the two electrodes 44 and 45. In'that case, or if desired, the two ends of the heating element may be brought down into a conducting sleeve I08, in a central cavity I I0 in the plug I00.

A set-screw II2 may insure contact between the,

metal of the plug and the ends of the heating element 50. The set-screw may be water-tight or there may be a water tight material placed over its outer end. If desired, there may be a cementitious material I I4 placed between the annulus I02 and the folded portion of the rim I04.

The device described above can be constructed of elementary durable parts. It can be quickly serviced. It is completely safe, as no exposed parts ever have an impressed potential. It is so simple that it can be operated by a child.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Cooking equipment comprising a support, a vessel having an electric heating element permanently associated therewith, said vessel being adapted to be supported by said support and to be removed therefrom, an electric circuit for supplying electric energy to said element, a mechanism which is responsive to heat received by said mechanism and which is associated with said support and positioned to receive heat from said vessel whereby it is responsive to temperature changes in said vessel, said mechanism being adapted for controlling said supplied energy.

2. A cooking equipment, comprising a direct electric heated cooking vessel and a cooperating base therefor, with which the said vessel is removably associated, current introduction means for said vessel, a supply circuit including same means, current connection contacts for the vessel provided in said base and adapted to cooperate with the said current introduction means of the vessel when the vessel is positioned on the base, and safety interrupting means external to said supply circuit, for maintaining said contacts under tension when the vessel is in its operable position on said base, and for freeing at least one of said contacts of tension when the vessel is removed to its inoperable position, away from said base, and means wholly separate from said supply circuit for operating said safety interrupting means.

3. A cooking equipment, comprising a direct electric heated cooking vessel and a cooperating base therefor, with which the said vessel is removably associated, current introduction means base, and for freeing at least one of said con-,

tacts of tension when the vessel is removed to its inoperable position, away from said base and consisting of mechanical elements, adapted to be moved by a motion of said vessel, for directly and mechanically disconnecting at least one of said contacts from said circuit.

4. A cooking equipment comprising a direct electric cooking vessel and a cooperating base therefor, with which said vessel is removably associated, an electric supply circuit in said base and leading to contacts in said base, electrode means on said vessel positioned to receive current from said contacts, means tending to hold one of said contacts out of said circuit and means, other than said electrode means, associated with said vessel and positioned to operate on the last mentioned means, after said electrode means are I in contact with said contacts, for putting said one contact into said circuit.

5. Cooking equipment comprising a support, a vessel having an electric heating element permanently associated therewith, said vessel being.

a heat transfer element associated with said support and means associated with said vessel and said support for causing said vessel and said element to be brought into tight contact when said vessel and said support undergo relative rotation.

6. Cooking equipment comprising a support, a vessel having an electric heating element permanently associated therewith, said vessel being adapted to be supported by said support and to be removed therefrom, an electric circuit for sup; plying electric energy to said element, a mechanism which is responsive to heat received by said mechanism and which is associated with said support and positioned to receive heat from said vessel wherebyit is responsive to temperature changes in said vessel, said mechanism being adapted for controlling said supplied energy, a heat transfer elementassociated with said support and means associated with said vessel and said support for causing said vessel and said element to be brought into tight contact when said vessel and said support undergo a motion other than a motion of direct approach to each other.

2,2ee,cea

electrically insulating plate having a substantially horizontal uppersurface and having a plurality of apertures therethrough, a plurality of resiliently mounted electrical contacts in said apertures, and a heat transfer plate, attached to said support in the vicinity of the surface of said electrically insulating plate, said insulating plate being formed of electrically non-conductive material.

9. A cooking equipment support comprising an electrically insulating element having a plurality of apertures therein, a plurality of electrical contacts extending from the under side of said element at least toward the plane of said apertures, a heat-transfer element attached to said support in the vicinity of said insulating element, and means for assisting in positioning a piece of cooking equipment in tight contact with said heat-transfer element said insulating element being formed of electrically non-conductive material.

10. A cooking equipment support comprising an electrically insulating element having a plurality of apertures therein, a plurality of electrical contacts extending from the under side of said element at least toward the plane of said apertures, a heat-transfer element attached to said support in the vicinity of said insulating element, an electric-circuit switch element positioned near one of said apertures and adapted to be operated through said one aperture by an element on a piece of cooking equipment.

11. A vessel comprising an electric heating element permanently associated therewith; means for at least assisting in positioning a portion of said vessel in tight contact with heat-transfer so'means and a protuberance from said vessel for mechanically operating a switch in an electric circuit leading to said electric heating element.

12. A cooking equipment support comprising a plurality of contacts for connecting with an electric circuit in a piece of supported equipment, means providing a portion of an electric circuit for said contacts but not including said contacts, manually operated means for breaking said portion. means for breaking said portion and operable by a piece of cooking equipment, and means responsive to temperature. changes for breaking said portion.

13; A cooking equipment support comprising a plurality of contacts for connecting with an electric circuit in a piece ofsupported equipment, means providing a portion of an electric circuit for said contacts, manually operated means for breaking said portion adjacent one of said contacts. whereby said contact is not connected to a source of power when said portion is so broken, means for breaking said portion adjacent another of said contacts, whereby said other contact is not connected to a source of power when said portion is broken by the second-mentioned breaking means, the second-mentioned breaking I means being operable by a piece of cooking equip base therefor, with whicn the said vessel is removabiy associated, current introduction means for said vessel, a supply circuit including same means, current connection contacts for the vessel provided in said base and adapted to cooperate vessel when the vessel is positioned on the base, and mechanically-operated safety means for freeing said contacts of tension when the vessel is removed to its inoperative position away from said base and heat-responsive means in said base for freeing said contacts of tension when said vessel is above a predetermined temperature.

15. A cooking equipment comprising a direct electric cooking vessel and a cooperating base therefor, with which said vessel is removably associated and which has a horizontal, perforated, electrically-insulating plate, an electric supply circuit in said base and having switch means therein and leading to contacts attached to said base and associated with said perforations, electrode means on said vessel positioned to receive current from said contacts, other means on said vessel for operating said switch means after said electrodes have been brought 0 into contact with said contacts, a thermostat asoiT said cursociated with said base for shutting 5 rent when said thermostat is above a predetermined temperature, a heat-transfer element assoeiated with said base for transfering heat from said vessel to said thermostat, clamping means for gi ing said vessel a tight contact with said element.

16. A cooking equipment comprising a direct electric cooking vessel and a cooperating base therefor, with which said vessel is removably associated, an electric supply circuit in said base and leading to contacts in said base, electrode means on said vessel positioned to receive current irom' said contacts, manually operable switch means attached to said base for disconnecting each of said contacts from said circuit,

and other means on said base tending to hold one of said contacts out of said circuit,

17. A cooking equipment comprising a direct electric cooking vessel and a cooperating base therefor, with which said vessel is removably associated, an electric supply circuit in said base and leading to contacts in said base, electrode means on said vessel positioned to receive cur rent from said contacts, heat-responsive means attached to said base formaking and breaking said circuit, manually operable switch means attached to said base for disconnecting each of said contacts from said circuit and for regulating said heat-responsive means, and other means on said base tending to hold one of said contacts out of said circuit.

LUDWIG REICHOLD. 

